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Poda-Poda Stories, a prominent Sierra Leonean literary organization, has proudly announced the commencement of its inaugural fellowship program, unveiling the selected fellows to the public.
The Poda-Poda Stories Fellowship, spanning a year, aims to fortify young Sierra Leonean literary talents. The program’s design provides a nurturing environment for these emerging writers to flourish in the literary sector and spearhead an autonomous creative project.
At the heart of the fellowship are three foundational pillars: learning, support, and implementation. This structure ensures that fellows not only master the rudiments of editing and publishing but also refine their craft through specialized workshops.
With the invaluable backing of the Poda-Poda Stories staff, fellows are set to gain practical experience, ranging from administrative duties to social media content creation. A hallmark of this fellowship will be the development and execution of a capstone project by each fellow, harnessing a medium of their choosing.
The organization emphasizes its mission, stating, “The goal of the fellowship is to inspire and train the next generation of young writers in Sierra Leone. Through access to resources, coaching, training, and support for their independent projects, we hope that fellows will enhance their creative skills, while gaining exposure to the literary world of publishing, writing and editing. The fellows will also have the opportunity to shadow and provide support to the editors, gaining first-hand experience in running a literary platform. “
This year, Poda-Poda Stories has bestowed this fellowship honor upon two distinguished individuals, Sulaiman Munda Bonnie and Josephine Kamara.
Sulaiman Munda Bonnie, an English graduate with top honors from the University of Sierra Leone, is presently pursuing law at the same institution. His accolades include winning the esteemed African Union’s Youth Essay Contest in 2022. Apart from teaching English at Naiahcom High School, Freetown, Bonnie presides over the Poetry Reading Club at Fourah Bay College. A fervent writer of poetry and short stories, he ardently cites Jane Austen, reflecting, “When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.”
On the other hand, Josephine Kamara, a staunch advocate for girls’ rights, boasts over a decade of experience. Currently, she serves as the Senior Advocacy Manager at Purposeful, Sierra Leone. Kamara’s notable contributions include writings on education, rape culture, and the empowerment of girls. Recognized globally for her efforts, she was lauded by Together for Girls in 2015 as one of the 16 heroes battling violence against girls. Kamara is currently delving into ‘Power, Participation and Social Change’ at the Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex. She aspires to pen and share her memoir with the world.
